This week I made two "Red Cross" blocks ... in blue! That sounds funny, but if you click on the RSC 2018 button below you will find a lot of blue "Red Cross" blocks!
and this is what they looked like yesterday morning:
They were neither square nor 10.5 inches!
I decided that what I had done wrong was not to think that a 5 by 5 grid might just go together differently than a 4 by 4, or 6 by 6! Using the "little grey cells" a little longer before I started sewing would have saved a lot of time. As it was I made all four 4-patches of triangles exactly the same, including pressing and then spinning the seam allowances all in the same direction. And then in both blocks, as I was making them simultaneously. However I tried to resolve the misalignment of seam allowances I got lumps that just wouldn't press flat. There was nothing for it but to take both blocks apart and fix the spun seams. While I was at it I fixed some of the triangle patches too. Lo and behold: two 10.5 inch squares that really are square! And all the intersections are spun, giving a nice FLAT block!
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| Spun seams. for instructions see Quiltville tips (click) |
The moral of this tale: think before you sew, also about the back!
I'm linking to
so pop over there to see this week's blue delights.
Happy sewing
Marly.
20 comments:
glad you ended up with even square blocks. Happens to me too - sometimes with blocks with so many seams I press the seams open and then they lay flatter also. I have not seen the blue crosses but always the red. I like them blue and think they would look good in all colors!
Pretty blocks. I recently did my first spun seams. Will definitely need to remember that trick - I like how flat they all came out,too!
Lovely blocks! I almost always press my seams open for a flatter look--more time consuming, but I like the results...hugs, Julierose
I need to learn how to spin the 4 patch seams - thanks for the link to the tutorial! I've had many blocks that are hard to press because I haven't done that. Your blocks look great!
Beautiful blocks! I've had trobles with blocks and ended up taking them apart too. So frustrating, but the results are worth it!
Beautiful blue red crosses blocks, and flat! ;)
Sometimes it just is worth it to undo and fix right? Did that with a hexagon block just yesterday, much better now! They looked fine to me at first glance in the slightly off picture, but nice and flat in the main pic, so yay!
They turned out lovely in spite of your struggles.
What lovely seams on the back of your block. I had the same troubles at first and then started sewing the rest as mini quilts instead of smaller subunits of four or nine patches. It does make such a difference when all the seams nestle.
You're absolutely right! And I wish I'd thought about seams while I was stitching my block together - spinning those intersections would have been such a help! (I resorted to cheating by clipping the seam allowances so I could change directions!)
Think before you sew is really good advice! Glad to hear that your 2nd attempt was better.
These look great! And I totally agree -- sometimes things are worth redoing!
Good you persisted and managed to make beautiful blocks!
Your blocks are great. Worth the extra effort!
Your blocks are quite lovely.
Great to see you r blue blocks. Spin those seams!
You've got some beautiful Red Cross blocks. I've gotten in the habit of figuring out the pressing instructions before I start assembling a block, it's been a life saver (well at least I think it cuts down on the seam ripper usage).
I am glad that your blocks turned out so well! :)
Arg...I can't sew blocks that tiny and ever have them come out that good!!!
But sometimes thinking is so hard....
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